Method and machine for sealing vitreous vessels



Feb.V 17, 1942. M. E. McGowAN Erm. 2,273,445

' METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SEALING VITREOUS VESSELS l Filed March '29, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1942. M. E. McGvowAN ETAL 2,273,445

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SEALING VITREOUS VESSELS i Filea March 29, 1940 3 sneaks-sheet 2 Feb. 17, 1942.

M. laMclGowAN Erm.. 2,273,445

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR SEALING VI'TREOUS VES'SVEIS Filed March 29, 1940 `3 Sheets-Sheet 3 vENToR MB1 Mc 60W/YN ATTORNEY y uiactured, include a Patented ret. 11, 1942 lMEVTHOD AND MACHINE FOR SEALING i .VITREOUS VESSELS Michael n. McGowan and melma A. minier-r,v

Bloomiield,` N. J., Electric &

Manufacturing Company,

asignen to Westinghouse East Pittsburgh, Pa.,-a'corporation ofPennsylvania 2 Application March 29, 1940, Serial No. 326,652

reclaim.

This invention relates to the sealing of vitreous vessels, and, more particularly, to tipping oi exhaust tubes of incandescent electric lamps'con- .taining gas at a pressure higher than atmospher- 1c.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is to tip ofi the exhaust tubes of incandescent electric lamps after the same have been lled with gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric.

Another object of kour invention is to provide a is then heated until the wall thereof collapses, whereupon the lamp becomes sealed and may be removed in any well-known manner.

When, however, the lamp islled with an inert gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric, the

exhaust tube will-not collapse, even upon being heated, but rather tends to expand or blow out method and machinefor tipping oi exhaust tubes of gas-nlled lamps, while said tubes are enclosed in a space containing air or other gas at a presr `sure above atmospheric.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to the particular .arrangement and construction of the various parts, will become lapparent as the description proceeds.q

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan of apparatus embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly in verti` cal section, of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 0 Figure 3 .is a vertical sectional view, Wltlzi' portions in elevation on the line 4III- III of Figure 1,A

in thedirection ofthe arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 3, in the direction of the arrows.

c Figure 5 isla vertical sectional view, with parts tube. one end of which is flanged and sealed to ,thebulb neck, and the other terminates in a ilattened portion or press through which conductive lead wires are sealed, and upon which a rilament is mounted. Within the nare tube, and extending downwardly from the press. are the lead wires. and an exhaust tube leads from an orifice f in the nare tube or press for the purpose oi removing air from th'e bulb and iilling it with gas at 'a desired pressure.

Whenl manufacturing vacuurnslamps, it is customary to insert each exhaust4 tube into a port connected to a vacuum pump and, after the air orvgas has been exhausted from the bulb, the tube due tov theinternal pressure. The method which propose to employ for sealing overcomes this tendency to blow out by performing the tipping off operation in a chamber containing air or other gas at higher than normal atmospheric pressure, or corresponding with the pressure of the gas in the lamp bulb and exhaust tube therefrom, that is, preferably' substantially equal to or y higher than saidv gas pressure.

The apparatus which we propose to useis an improvement overthat described and claimed in the 'Gustin application, Serial #144,143,f1ed May 22, 1937, now Patent No. 2,215,100, dated September 17, 1940, and owned by the assignee of the present application.

, In the `drawings of a preferred orsele'cted embodiment of our invention, an incandescent electric lamp i I, is shown inserted in an apertured exhaust rubber i3 of a head Il with an exhaust port'. -'l'.'he head M is carried on an exhaust machine spider i5 and connected through a vacuum line I6 to suitable vacuum pumps, not shown.

i Inasmuch as apparatus for exhausting andgas' filling lamp bulbs isfwell known in the art, the 'mechanism therefor is only fragmentarily illustrated in order to merely show the improvement embodying the present invention'.

The head Il desirably includes a cap I1, screwthreaded to a tting I0 and vadapted to press a ,washer I9 through ball bearings 2. I. The cap l1 may be rotated at the proper times by means of its laterally extending arm 22, to either press the -rubber I2 about an exhaust tube, or release the pressure thereon to facilitate `insertion and removal ofy such a tube.

Assuming that the exhaust tube I2 of the lamp Il has been clamped inthe position illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the vlamps revolved about the axis of the spider i5 through the stages wherein it is exhausted to the proper degree, and '.he desired inert gas admitted through the ex4 haust tube I2, from an inert gas line 23, as will be clear from a consideration of Figure' 2. Before admitting the gas, however, the vacuum line I8 is cut on from the lamp, as by pressure applied to the rubber tube connection 2l in a well-known having an exhaust-tube l2 upper arm 68 of said lever has" outstanding manner, or by means of a pivotedvalve membe .arm 21 adapted to reciprocate to' a limited extent .witll a hollow vertically-'movable rod 2 8. The vacuum connection to the cup 26 is made through ports 28, 8| and passage 82, a cam-operated valve, not shown, opening the vacuum connection to the hollow rod 28.' The rod 2 8 is, in fact, a reciprocating vacuum supply pipe, the lower end of which is exibly connected, as by means of a rubb'er tube-to said cam-operated valve.

Arm.21 is adjustably mounted on the hollow rod 28, as by means of set screws 88, in order to allow for the tipping oif of shorter or longer bulbs. It will be understood th'at although our method and apparatus are particularly adapted for tipping-oil gas filled bulbs, vacuum type bulbs may `also be handled.

- After being gas liled, as before described, th`e` lug portions,66 and .81; carrying set screws 68 and In order to accommodate variations in the shape of the bulbs and ofi-center mounting in the exhaust machine, the vacuum cup.26 is connected to the arm 21 by means of a vertically movable hollow stem u, united; to sind cup with a swivel `ioint e therebetween. The cup 26 is .resiliently held in place with respect to said ystem 84 as by means of'a coiled tension spring 86 con`- nected at its lower end t a pin 81 through said cup 26, and at its upper endto a screw'plug 88.

`,The stem 84 is arranged to simply slide lor reciprocate inthe arm 21, that is, without rotation,

yet be practically vacuum'tight with respect thereto. A plug 88, pressed against the stem 84 by means of a spring 4|, held under adjustl .tension by means of screw plug 42, is provided inorder to hold the stem 84 at a height determined by maximum variations. A screw 48 adjustably mounted in a bracket 44, extending from 'the upper end of a guide rod.48 held by arm 45 on sleeve46, in which the'hollow rod 26 reciprocates, is provided for resetting the stem 84 to the lowest position, as the bulb is transferred, so that it is then in the proper potion to engage and hold the next bulb. 'Iheiarm 211s caused to turn with the screw 48 and bracket 44 by.

means of arm iixed to the sleeve 46 by set screw 48, las the arm 41, iixedon rod 28, is adapted to reciprocate on the rod 48;

'I'he lamp tipping-olf mechanism is operated by a shaft 48, driven from the exhaust machine, and carrying a series of cams which control the operation of the various parts in the desired sequence, shown graphically in Figure 6. The oscillation of the sleeve 46 and reciprocation of rod 28 vare respectively controlled by two cams numbered 8| and 52.` The cam 5| for oscillating the sleeve 46, thereby also oscillating the rod 28 through guide rod 48 and arm 41, engages a roller58onthelowerarln 54ofabellcrank lever pivoted on a shaft 56., 'Ille sleeve 48 extends from its operating arm68 iixed thereon toitsdriven arm 45 andservesasabearingfor the reciprocating rod 28. The upper arm 51 of said crank lever Sloperates the arm 58 v(llgs. 1 and A2), iixed on the sleeve 46, through a connecting rod 88, in ordert'o turn said arm 45 with said sleeve 46 and pscillate, through the arm 41 and `l'od 28, the arm 21 to and-from a position over the lamp Il, as shown inFigure 2.

'I'he cam 52 for reciprocating the rod 28, ensases roller 8| on vvlower arm 62 of bell crank lever 88, pivotally mountedron shaft 84. The

28, in order to all'ow for raising and lowering said.

rod, the vacuum' cup 28, and a lamp when picked up by said cup. I n this way provision is made for not only rotating, but alsoft simultaneously reciprocating the rod28 and -imparting corresponding movementfto a lamp I'I.

Pressure chambers 11 and 18 are provided for enclosing a portion of the exhaust tube I2 of a lamp during the tipping on' operation. 'I'hese chambers can-y olwhydrogen or other burners 18and 8|. The gas issuing from said burners is adapted to be ignited by pilot light 82. The chambers arealso supplied with'gas pipes 88 and 84 connected to a source of supply, not shown, through controlling valves and 86. These valves are operated, in the desired sequenceby connecting rod 81 acting on valve-operating arm 88, the former being in turn connected to an operating arm 88 mounted on shaft 8|, which shaft is in turn operated by lever 82 carried thereon, and having roller 88 engaged by lirecontrol operating cam 184 on shaft 48.

e chambers" and-18 are respectively secured to frames 85 and 86 carrying racks 81 and 88. A gear 88 is positioned between said racks, and operated by lever |8I on carrying gear shaft |82. l'he lever I8| is connected tothe pressure chamber operating cam |88 by roller |84 on .operating arm |85, fixed on shaft |88, which shaft also carries lever- |81 transmitting movement to arm 8| through connecting Upon the movement of the pressure chambers 11 and 18 to enclose an exhaust tube portion therein, compressed air is admitted to the enclosure defined by said chambers through pipes |88 and which transport the same from Supply pipe ||2 through valve ||3, operated by control cam| I4 engagingroller ||5 of the valve ||8, as desired.

Having now described the construction andarrangement of the apparatus for effecting tipping oi! of gas filled or other -vitreous devices. such as incandescent electric lamps, we will now describe a preferred method of operating said apparatus. y Y Y `Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a chart v which represents what happens during one com'-l plete revolution, or turning of the cam shaft 48 Y through 368.A The lamp is indexed, or moved to the tip oil.' position, during the movement of the cam shaft through 90, as indicated by the line marked .index. The hollow vacuum rod 28 is rotated and caused to reciprocate downward to bring the vacuum cupv 26 directly over to ensage the lamp Il and 82, and represented by-thelines marked transfer andvacuum cupi which show that when the-cam shaft has turned .through 90., the vacuum cup has been' moved to a position directiy'over the lamp and then s'ai'd 'cup'.is sim- Y when indexed in the tipping off. tion illustrated. This i'sei'fected by the cams l pressed without rotationgor supplementary motion. The-linemarked "vacuum shows that the valve the rod 2l to the vacuum pumpsis opened as'the cup 26 descends. The lower line marked that before the vacuum cup is lowered it is revolv'ed about the axis of the rod 28 to the.exhaust position, or over thelamp. During this rotation, gas issuing from the burners 1l and ll is ignited by the pilot light l2, as shown by the line marked "re, but the pressure chambers 11 and 'Il do not start to closeuntil after the vacuum cup has descendedand vacuum .has been applied thereto, as indicated 'by the line marked vacuum." I At about 125, as shown by the line marked after they are completely closed, with the comair applied therein, ,jas shown by the line'marked air, for the length of time indicated in the chart, the fires cilect a sufilcient aars, ply lowered to engage the same, that is it is low- 44s mlm exhaust. tube, comprising enclosing only a portion of said tube in a chamber, introducing into said chamber air compressed above attransferl also shows y softening of the exhaustl tube, so that just shortly before the cam shaft has rotated 180 the vacuum cup is simply raisedfto eiect the tip-off indicated.

The .controlling cam 52 has ariser tending to overstretch' most sizes of exhaust tubing, thereby necessitating theuse of=adjusting screws ll and is to provide the necessary lost motion for regulating the stretch inthe size of tubing operated on. l

The'operation of the vacuum cup 26 is controlled to stretch the exhaust tube at the proper time, indicated on the chartby the words ftipolf, after which the tip is allowed toremain enclosed in the pressure chambers with the pres'- .sure applied, to facilitate rapid'cooling of and prevent the pressure of the gas in the bulb vfrom blowing out the tip. The cooling of the tip,

however, begins in compressed air heated by the mospheric, heating a portion of said enclosed tube, simply slightly raising said vessel to restrict and tip oi! said tube in said chamber, allowing the tip to coolan appreciable length of time in said heated compressed air and raising still further toremove it'fronil said chamber.

3. The method of handling a vitreous vessel having an exhaust tube, comprising enclosing only a portion of said tube ina chamber, introducingcompressed 4air into said chamber, heating a portion .nf said enclosed tube, simply slightly raising said vessel to restrict and tip off said tube in said chamber, cooling the tip in said heated compressed air, raising saidvessel box, the pressure chambers startfto close, and f still iurther'to remove the tipI from said chamber, and then swinging said vessel to a discharge chute.

4. The method of handling a vitreous vessel containing gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric and having an exhaust tube, comprising positioning it inthe tip-oil? position on an exhaust 'close and heat va portion of said exhaust tube while creating a pressure above atmospheric in said chambers, simply raising said vacuum cup burners Il and 8|, as indicated in Fig. 6'. After these burners areturnedoil, the compressed air in the chambers 'I1 and 18 cools by radiation and the admixture of cold air from the pipes il and I l I to maintain the pressure. It willbe seen that the tip is thus eiiex'ztively` annealed. Prior-to exposure to room temperatureL thereby avoiding the possibility of cracking.

After the tip cools suillciently, the bulb is again simply raised, starting at `about 270 as indicated, and revolved about the axis of the rod 2l for transfer to the chute |23. The lamp is iinally dropped in the chute, as shown in Figure l, and on the lines marked vacuum cup" and transfer, the air pressure having been turned oil' before this time, and the pressure chambers opened shortly thereafter. e

Although a preferred embodiment of our invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that modiilcations may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: f

\ 1. -The method of sealing a vitreous vessel having an exhaust tube, comprising enclosing only a portion of said tube in a chamber, introducing compressed air into said chamber, heating a portion of said enclosed-tube, simply-slightly raising said vessel to restrict and tip off said tube in said chamber, and after cooling of the tip in the heated compressed air again simply raising'said vessel to remove the tipped oil tube from said chamber.

- 2. 'I'he method of sealing a vitreous vessel havto restrict and tip of! the exhaust tube while enclosed in said chambers, ,allowing the tip to anneal and cool for an appreciable length of time under the pressure-in said chamberssimplyrasing said vacuum. cup while withdrawingh said heated chambers from one another, and swinging said cup to remove said vessel to a discharge chute. v A

5. A machine for tipping off exhaust tubes of vessels, comprising complementary' chambers each containing a tipping -o burner, means for l reciprocating said chambers away from or toward oneanother to enclose a portion of the exhaust' tube of, a vessel to be tipped oil therein, means for supplying compressed air to said chambers during tipping on', and means for first simply slightly raising the vessel to restrict andtip off said tube 4while enclosed in said chambers and then, after annealing and cooling of the tip in said heated chambers, raising still further to remove the exhaust tip from said chambers.

6. Armachine for tipping oi! exhausttubes of vessels containing gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric, comprising a' chamber consisting of counterpart compartments opening toward one another, each compartment carrying a rack and mounted to reciprocate toward and away from one other to enclose or release an exhaust tube, and a gear mounted between said racks for operating said compartments.

'7. A machine for tipping oif exhaust tubes of vessels containing gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric, comprising a chamber .dened by .counterpart compartments opening toward one another, mounted to reciprocate toward ,and

awayfrom'each other to enclose or release an exhaust tube-and each containing a bnrner.po'

to reciprocate toward and away from each other to enclose or release an exhaust tube, and pipes ,connected to said' compartments for. admitting compressed air thereto for theA tipping oil' operation. e

9. A machine for `tipping o3 exhaust tubes of vessels containing gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric. comprising counterpart chambers opening l toward and mounted to reciprocate to and from one another-,ato enclose or release an exhaust tube, andmeans associated therewith for simply raising the -vessel'carrying said exhaust tube, in-timed relationwith heating means in said chambers', to leffect a tippingoifoperation therein.'

10. The method.: o f making an incandescent electric lamp with a bulb gasillled tq'a pressure above atmospheric vanexhausi; tube, comprising supportingf'fsaid 'bulb en -an exhausting lhead with its tubetlin an exhaust rubbenex- @maar to simply move downward to engage said bulb,

then raise it a small amount for tipping-ofi', andilnally lraise .it a relatively large amount and swing said bulb from the machine, means for swinging bulb-gripping means to`a poi ntdirect1y over said bulb and-,then movingit downward along the exis of said bulb togrip the 4top thereof,

igniting tippngllrescarried in parts of a pressure chamber- ,Imovingsaid parts toward .one another to enclose" a portion of said exhaust tube' and cause saidilre's to' heatthe same, introducing compressed,air' into said chamber to ,balance the gas pressure: in said bulb, simplyslightly raising said gripping means with its bulb after said fires have' softened saidtube, to -tip oil? the latter, arming on auf:v snowing the up to' cool insaid compressed air'while enclosed inl said chamber, cutting oft said compressed air, further raising said, bulb, and then swinging to remove to a discharge chute.

11. A machine for making an incandescent electric lamp with a bulb gas-lled to a pressure above atmosphericand having an exhaust tube,`

comprising an exhausting head having a rubber for receiving the exhaust tube of said bulb; mechanism for moving said bulb to the tip- Ding-olf position onsid machine, bulb-gripping means, mechanism for swinging said means over, and then moving it downwardly along the axis of, said bulb, iso-engage ,the latter, when so posi-- tioned, and then ilrst .raising the same slightly for tipping-oil, and nally removing said bulb from the machine, a pair of complementary pressure chamber parts 'mounted to reciprocate and enclose or release a portion of said exhaust tube,

burners carried by said parts and operable in the chamber -for softening said cxhastftbe, and connections for introducing cdipissed air into Said chamber.

12. A machine for making an .incandescent electric lamp with a bulb gas-lilled to a pressure above atmospheric and having an exhaust tube.

comprising an exhausting head having a rubber enclosing a portion of said exhaustA tube, means in said enclosing means for softening the enclosed portion of said tube for tipping o f! purposes, and means for balancing the pressureof the gas .in said bulb during Said ltipping 0H Operation.

13. A machine for making an incandescent electric lamp with a bulb gas-filled to a pressure above atmospheric and having an exhaust tube, comprising an exhausting head having a rubber for receiving the exhaust tube-of such a bulb, mechanism for moving said bulb to the tippingoir positionv of said machine, gripping means, a stem, said gripping means being adjustably connected to thelower end portion of said stem,

2d an arm in which said stem is vertically slidable, hausting and-gas-lling tothe ldesiredextent; in- A dexing said bulb inafits tipping=pff position,

a rod, said arm being mounted to swing about the axis of said rod, a bracket mounted on said machine, a set screw in said bracket and overlying the stem to which the gripping means is connected, for resetting the same to itslowest position as the bulb is transferred.. and mechanism for moving said rod to, swing the gripping means over and then cause it to simply move downward to engage said bulb, then raise it a fsmall amount for tipping-o, and inally raise it a relatively large amount and swing said bulb vfrom the machine.

14. A- machine-for' making. an incandescent electric lamp ,with a bulb gas-lled to-a pressure above atmospheric and having an exhaust tube, comprising an exhaustinghead having a rubber for receiving the exhaust tube-of such a bulb, a vacuum cup, and adjustable mechanism for operating said cup to effect a.tipping oil.' movement and iinal removal of said bulb from the machine, comprising va cam, a bell crank lever pivotally mountedv and having an arm operatively engaging said cam, another arm having for receiving the exhaust tube of such a bulb.f`

mechanism formoving said bulb to the tippingoff position of said machine, avacuum cup, a stem, means adlustably vsaid cup to the lower end portion of said stem, anarm in which said stem is vertically slidablea hollowlv rod connected to vacuum-producing means,saidV arm being mounted to swing about the axis of said rod, a bracket mounted on said machine, a set screw in said bracket and overlying the .to which the vacuum c up is connected, for resetting the same to its lowest position as the bulb is transferred, mechanism for moving -Said hollowrod tdswing the cup over and then causait 'Ibi' outstanding' lug portions carrying set screws forming a jaw, a lever 'disposed in said jaw with' a desired' amountof lost motion, means connecting said lever to said vacuum, 'cup, means connecting said cup to vacuum-producing means, and means for softening said exhaust tube.

15. A machinefor makingincandescent electric lamps with bulbs gas lled to a pressure above atmospheric and having exhaust tubes, comprising an exhaust headwith an exhaust rubber for receivingaid tubes, mechanism for exhausting and gasiilling such lamps to the desired extent, mechanism foimoving said bulbs" oneA by one. tothe tipping off position, -bulbgripping means, mechanism for swinging said means, a pressure chamber formed as a plurality of parts mounted .for movement toward and away from one another, each of said parts carrying a tipping olf burner, means for igniting said burners prior to closing'th'e chamber about said 4tube, mechanism for moving said parts i toward and away from each other, means for introducing compressed air into said tipping oir chamber, and mechanism for actuating said bulb-gripping means to move it-to a point directly over each bulb when in tipping on position, then moving the same downward along the axis of said bulb to grip the top thereof, then simply slightly raise-the bulb Iafter .the burners have softened the tube to tip off the latter, thenfurther raise said bulb and swing to remove it to a discharge chute. and mechanism to-ituni oiI the burners and allow the tip to cool in the compressed air' while enclosed in'said cham and then cut oi! said compressed air. v

16. The method of sealing a. 'vitreous v containing gas'at a pressure higherthan atmospheric and having an exhaust tube, comprising indexing said vessel, carried in parts of a pressure chamber, moving said parts toward one another to enclose a portion o1 said exhaust tube and cause said tires 'tofheat the same, introducins `omnpressed air igniting tipping of! fires into said chambe y to balance the pressure of gais ln said vessel, sy ply slightly raising said vessel .y after said iiires 'h ve softened said tube to tip oithe latter, turn off saidres, allowing the tip to cool in sai heated compressed air while enclosed insaid chamber, cutting oil said com'- pressed air. and further raising and removing said vessel.

MICHAEL E. McGOWAN. RICHARD A. REHBERG. 

